Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
department of co operative governance andlatest news & developments
Escalating municipal debt poses a major threat to the financial sustainability of municipalities and has a direct effect on service delivery, but the situation is being turned around. (Photos: Delwyn Verasamy)
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Gauteng local government brings much-needed financial stability in municipalities

Residents are informed that not paying for services results in municipalities not being able to provide these services for them

  • Mary Martins
5 min read
There are 31 Mega Human Settlements planned for Gauteng in the next five years that will substantially reduce the housing backlog in the province. (Photos: GCIS & Supplied)
DAVID MAKHURA

Government and community to work together on land issues

MEC critical of local contractors who are paid 30% of project price but don’t do any work

  • Luzuko Pongoma
4 min read
The development of Elijah Barayi Village in Carltonville has involved subcontracting 111 companies which, among others, are owned by women, youth and people with disability. (Photo: Lebogang Nkadimeng)
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Over 100 sub-contractors benefit from building the Elijah Barayi Village

Fleurhof will provide housing for thousands

  • Luzuko Pongoma
7 min read
The mandate of the Gauteng CoGTA is to strengthen co-operative governance between municipalities and traditional leaders, which MEC Dikgang Moiloa is successfully doing
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Greater co-operation between CoGTA and Gauteng Traditional Leadership

‘When unregistered initiation schools are identified they will be closed’

  • Mary Martins
7 min read
Referring to “attacks” on his daughter in the wake of his testimony before the commission, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan denied allegations that she amassed millions of rands through state tenders. (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)
BARBARA HOGAN

#StateCaptureInquiry: Gordhan — Connect the dots to uproot state capture

The public enterprises minister tells Zondo commission what appeared to be ‘isolated incidents’ was actually part of a larger picture of corruption

  • Gemma Ritchie
4 min read
SA Express employees beat out 16 other interested parties to buy a stake in the troubled state-owned airline.
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Municipalities to feel the heat over VBS investments

Cogta minister Zweli Mkhize says municipalities are going to start feeling the pinch as budgets are restructured and recovery plans put in place

  • Mashadi Kekana
2 min read
Former environmental affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane opened her evidence at the commission by saying the accusations by former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi that she had received gifts in exchange for her political influence were “extremely defamatory”.
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Traditional leaders warn Parliament: Don’t touch our land

‘We want you to be sensitive to this, please, we don’t want to really take up arms to defend the 13% [of land],’ one leader said.

  • Raeesa Pather
3 min read
Zweli Mkhize said National Treasury would consider and approve roll-over applications from municipalities on registered projects, committed and unspent funds.
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Skilled personnel is key to saving dysfunctional municipalities ― Mkhize

In March, Cogta minister Zweli Mkhize announced that about 55 municipalities were identified as distressed or dysfunctional

  • Mashadi Kekana
2 min read
Zweli Mkhize said National Treasury would consider and approve roll-over applications from municipalities on registered projects, committed and unspent funds.
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Municipalities return millions to the fiscus, while drowning in Eskom debt

In a meeting with Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts, councils blamed the growing debt on ineffective revenue collection systems

  • Khulekani Magubane
3 min read
Michael Cohen as sentenced to three years in prison in December, after admitting to having paid hush money during the 2016 election to two women who said they had had affairs with Donald Trump. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
ANOOSH ROOPLAL

VBS saga: Municipalities in for half-a-decade wait for a fraction of R1.5bn deposits

Disciplinary action is going to be lodged against those responsible – from the bank and the municipalities – for the funds ending up with VBS.

  • Caryn Dolley
5 min read
‘It is imperative that we continuously visit the circumcised so as to make sure that they are not ill-treated and that they are safe
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Cogta pleads with parents to check legitimacy of initiation centres

Any parent whose child is harmed, or who has suspicions about the place the child is going, must open a complaint at a police station

  • Jenni Evans
3 min read
(Oupa Nkosi/M&G)
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Government lifts national drought state of disaster

The national state of disaster over drought has lapsed and will not be renewed, but the Western Cape remains a provincial disaster

  • Sesona Ngqakamba
3 min read
According to a statement released by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Thursday, an emergency team has been deployed to Kwazulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from the NICD. (David Harrison/M&G)
AMANDA KHOZA NEWS24

Mkhize denies R4.5m PIC kickback allegations

​Cogta Minister Zweli Mkhize has denied a media report that he demanded a R4.5-million kickback for facilitating a loan to an oil company from the PIC

  • Amanda Khoza News24
3 min read
The audit process requires full co-operation from municipalities and this is non-negotiable as far as we at Cogta are concerned, said Dube-Ncube.
AUDITOR GENERAL

KZN AG halts eThekwini audit following ‘death threats’

Cogta plans to investigate the alleged threats that jeopardised the safety of its staff in the eThekwini council

  • Mxolisi Mngadi
1 min read
The City of Tshwane’s failure to apply for a waiver for Aucamp
CITY OF TSHWANE

Tshwane mayor hired chief of staff without required qualifications

Solly Msimanga said he was deeply concerned by suggestions that Marietha Aucamp may have fabricated her qualifications

  • Mahlatse Mahlase
3 min read
According to a statement released by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Thursday, an emergency team has been deployed to Kwazulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from the NICD. (David Harrison/M&G)
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

55 municipalities have been identified as dysfunctional― Mkhize

​No fewer than 55 municipalities have been identified as distressed or dysfunctional, says Cogta Minister Zweli Mkhize

  • Lizeka Tandwa
1 min read
Des van Rooyen 9/12/2015– 13/12/2015
BUSISIWE MKHWEBANE

Des van Rooyen admits asking Guptas’ help for MKMVA

This is not the first Gupta-related finding by a Public Protector against Van Rooyen.

  • News24 Reporters
3 min read
Islamist group al-Shabab.
ANC

Move over Mmusi – national government’s taking over

Minister announces drought is a national disaster and that national government is taking over

  • Beauregard Tromp
2 min read
Islamist group al-Shabab.
DEPARTMENT OF CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND

Van Rooyen slams WC provincial government for slow spending on drought relief

Minister Des Van Rooyen has criticised the province and will meet today with a task team to decide if the Western Cape drought is a national disaster

  • Staff Reporter
1 min read
Smouldering: Vhudzani Secondary School is one of about 50 schools that have been burnt or vandalised.
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

Fears of more school disruptions in Limpopo

Threats of another shutdown in Vuwani as matric exams near

  • Groundup Staff
3 min read